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Fitchburg-based singer denies charges: 'I am not a car dealer'

By Amanda Burke, aburke@sentinelandenterprise.com

Updated:
08/29/2017 09:22:24 AM EDT

Hugo Ferreira, lead singer of the rock group Tantric sings to a packed concert of his hometown fans at Jillians nightclub Dec. 31, 2001 in Louisville, Kentucky in this AP file photo. (AP PHOTO/TIMOTHY D. EASLEY)

LUNENBURG -- Hugo Ferreira, lead singer of the band Tantric, disputes charges by police that he sold used cars without a license from a small dealership on Summer Street.

"I just moved here," said Ferreira, who recently returned to his hometown of Fitchburg after more than a decade of living in Louisville, Ky. "I am not a car dealer."

Lunenburg police earlier this month charged Ferreira with multiple complaints including forgery of Registry of Motor Vehicle documents, failure to properly document the sale of motor vehicles, and misrepresenting residency to avoid paying excise tax, according to Officer Brad McNamara.

Ferreira said he sold several used cars from a lot at 40 Summer St., once home to Import Domestic Auto Sales until the dealership was closed when license holder, Scott Sanford, manager at Acton-based Nutting's Body & Frame, was cited by the town for multiple code violations.

Sanford told the Sentinel & Enterprise he met Ferreira through a mutual friend, and referred to the singer as a "consultant" on the lot in sworn testimony before the Board of Selectmen. Ferreira said their arrangement was such that when a customer stopped by to inquire about a listed vehicle, Ferreira would call Sanford, who in turn would come to the lot to finalize the deal, including filling out all of the paperwork for the purchase.

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"I never sold one of Scott's cars without his knowledge," said Ferreira. "I never filled (out) any paperwork, I never took any money from anybody ... other than if it was my own car that I had owned and I had traded, or that I myself sold."

Ferreira estimates he sold around three of his cars that he was storing at 40 Summer St. to buyers. He rejects claims that this commercial activity amounts to running a dealership separate from the one that was licensed to operate at that location.

Police have alleged that Ferreira was operating his own used-car dealership by doing business under the name "Induit Auto," a name other than that listed on the dealership license.

Business cards reviewed by Interim Building Inspector Gary Rhodes showed "Induit Auto" as the company's name. Ferreira said he and Sanford agreed the moniker -- short for "get into it" -- would help rebrand the business, which Sanford said was licensed since Jan. 1 of last year.

"We had this plan where we were actually going to create an entity, and we were going to share," said Ferreira.

Ferreira said he had proper documentation showing he owned each of the vehicles he personally sold off the lot. He said each sale used dealers plates he purchased and believes are legal.

"When you sell a car and you buy a different one, you can transfer the plate and you have seven days ... to go to the registry and get the documents," said Ferreira. "You can go and you can get a dealer plate anywhere. You just go on Craigslist. They sell dealer plates or transport plates with a temporary license in which you can sell cars independently."

Ferreira said he met Sanford around the time members of his homeowners association complained of the number of cars he stored on his front lawn.

Sanford told Ferreira he could move some of those cars onto the Summer Street lot.

Ferreira said he stored a few of his cars on the lot, where he would periodically talk to prospective customers who stopped by to inquire about Sanford's cars.

"None (of my cars) had a for sale sign on them, you know what I'm saying," said Ferreira. "And they were nice cars, they were giving a little eye candy."

Ferreira missed a Fitchburg District court date earlier this month and subsequently had a warrant out for his arrest. He said court officials set the court date knowing he would be out of town touring with his band.

"I had court dates, but this court date was never mentioned to me," said Ferreira. "They summonsed me to court when everybody knew I wasn't going to be in town."

Ferreira posted $1,000 cash bail in Fitchburg District Court on Aug. 23 on a misdemeanor charge of affixing incorrect plates on a car to conceal identification, according to court documents.

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